[hackerspaces] How do you define YOUR hackerspace

[Koen Martens]

On Fri, May 06, 2011 at 12:42:17PM -0400, Adina Bogert-O'Brien wrote:
> Who out there has actually had a discussion about the feel or definition of
> their space and what direction you want to go in? Has it always just been a
> natural progression, or have you actually sat down to discuss what you want
> to be? I get the feeling that PSOne must have had some discussion of this
> type when you got offered funding and turned it down.
> 
> Personally, we've started to have that discussion at thinkhaus, and I think
> we need to talk it through some more at our space. I feel an oncoming storm
> of commercial activity that has the potential to crush us or make us so much
> stronger in North America. Maybe you Europeans have figured this out, or
> maybe there's just enough critical mass to support everyone. Maybe there is
> here too. One can hope.

At revspace, this has never been explicitly discussed. I myself had some ideas
when I started the whole thing, but as time progressed i have had to accept
that these might not necesarrily be universal among our members.

Anyway, despite not having explicit discussions about this, we have had 
discussions and 'incidents' (a gross exAageration) that gave a glimpse
of how these issues are considered by the group. For example, it has become
apparent that there is no motivation to rent out the space as a meeting 
place or working space. Also, bringing in blatant commercial interests
and/or conducting bussiness at the space is generaly frowned upon.

At the same time, the space is used by several members during the day
to work. Mostly entrepeneurs, self-employed people like me. As such we
are somewhat of a co-working space, yet we don't explicitly advertise
it as this as that does not seem to be a direction we want to take.

This all might change of course! Nothing is set in stone, and if a majority
wants to take things in another direction, then so be it.

Gr,

Koen (gmc)